Snare drum



Feb. 24, 1942; H. H. SLINGERLAND SNARE DRUM Filed Jan. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 24, 1942.

H. H. SLINGERLAND SNARE DRUM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1941 jive 73507:

dys.

Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES/PATENT OFFICE SNARE "DRUM Henry H. Slingerland, River Forest, 111.

Application January 24, 1941, Serial No. 375,846

8 Claims. (Cl. 84415) This invention relates to a snare drum, and more particularly to improved adjusting and throw-in mechanism for supporting the snare and rendering it effective or ineffective.

One feature of this invention is that it provides improved supporting means for a snare; another feature of this invention is that it enables ready adjustment of the tension in the snare when it is in operative position, to vary its pressure against the head of the drum; a further feature of this invention is the provision of improved throw-in means for rendering the snare effective or ineffective; yet another feature of this invention is an improved type of mounting bracket for the snare; a further feature of this invention is the provision of means connecting the snare to the bracket such that the snare is automatically self-aligning with relation to the drum head; other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a drum embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the drum, particularly illustrating the throw-in mechanism; Figure 3 is a detail view, partly broken away, of the operating lever and eccentric; Figure 4 is a detail view, partly broken away, of the end of the bracket with which the throw-in eccentric cooperates; Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the drum along the line 6 of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a detail view of the connection between the snare and the bracket, along the line I of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is another detail of the connection between the snare and the bracket, along the line 8 of Figure 6 The present invention discloses a number of improvements over the snare drum disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,166,733, which issued July 18, 1939.

In a snare drum the snare must be supported in operative association with one head of the drum, and in such manner that it may be made effective or ineffective very conveniently and quickly. In addition, there must be some means of adjusting the pressure of the snare against its associated head to vary the quality of the note produced by the drum when the snare is effective. In connection with some types of orchestras or arrangements, the most pleasing effect is obtained-by the use of what is known as a heavy snare; that is, when the snare strands are quite tight against the head. Other conditions make is generally known as a feather-touch snaring. In addition, as mentioned above, means must be provided whereby the drummer may very quickly render the snare either effective or ineffective, and in connection with this means there should be some arrangement for ensuring proper muilling of the snare; that is, ensuring that the snare strands are completely out of contact with the drum head when the throw-in mechanism is in ineffective position.

I have provided improved means for accomplishing these and other objects. The principal parts of my improved snare supporting and operating mechanism are a pair of brackets on opposite sides of the shell, pivotally mounted thereon intermediate their ends, each bracket having one end substantially flush with but spaced from the snare head; means for rocking one of the brackets about its axis; and maintaining it in any desired position to effect adjustment in the tension of the snare when it is in effective position; throw-in mechanism forrocking the other bracket about its axis to render the snare effective or ineffective, this mechanism operating on the eccentric principle; and spring means on the brackets urging the snare away from the head to ensure proper mufiiing when the snare is intended to be in ineffective position.

In the particular embodiment of my invention disclosed herewith an orchestra model snare drum is shown. This comprises as its principal parts a shell I0, batter and snare counter hoops II and I2, and heads I3 and [4 held on the shell by the hoops, the hoops in turn being held in place on the shell by brackets l5 and tensioning studs l6.

The snare counter hoop I2 has gates i1 and I8 therethrough. The snare is supported by means lying outside of these gates and extends through the gates into operative association with the snare head I l. The active portion of the snare is here shown as comprising spring wire coils l9 carried by strainer plates 20 and 2|. These are in turn carried by brackets on opposite sides of the shell, as will be now more fully described.

Referring more particularly to Figure 6, it will be seen that brackets 22 and 23 are mounted on opposite sides of the shell l0, these brackets being pivotally mounted, substantially at their center, on mounting elements 24 and 25 rigidly fastened to the shell in any desired manner. Each of the brackets 22 and 23 is thus capable of rocking movement about a point intermediate its ends, as about the axes 26 and 21. One end a very light contact preferable, to achieve what of each of the brackets is substantially flush with but spaced from the snare head of the drum; and it is to these ends that the snare is connected. The bracket 22 has associated with its other end throw-in mechanism shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 5. The end of the bracket 22 is provided with, in this particular embodiment of my invention, a V-shaped transverse groove 28, having an opening 29 through the center thereof. A stud 30 extends through this opening and is rigidly fastened to the shell, as by being screwed into a box 3| therein. The stud serves as an axis for the throw-in element indicated in general as 32. This element comprises as its parts a V-shaped convex portion 33, and telescoping parts 34 and 35 making up the operating lever. A spring 36 about the stud 3i] urges the associated end of the bracket 22 out away from the shell. When the eccentric 33 is properly registered with the groove or recess 23 (as shown in Figure 5) the spring 36 keeps its end of the bracket out away from the shell, rocking the bracket about its axis 26 and causing the other end to move in closer to the shell. This results in decreasing the tension in the snare to such an extent that it moves to ineffective position, out of contact with the snare head 14. On the other hand, movement of the operating lever in either direction from this position causes the eccentric 33 to ride up out of the recess 28, forcing the end of the bracket in against the resistance interposed by the spring 313 and by the tension in the snare, thus moving the snare to effective position in contact with the snare head. It will be noted that the eccentric 33 is not squarely transverse to the operating lever, but at a slight angle. The arrangement is such that the lever lies in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 when the snare is in inefiective position; and movement of the lever to the position shown in dotted lines. Figure 2 causes the snare to be thrown in, or made effective. The making of the operating lever in two telescoping parts enables the end of the lever to project above the batter counter hoop H if desired (as shown in Figure 2) or the two parts of the lever may be collapsed or telescoped into each other when the drum is packed for carrying. When the end of the lever projects about the counter hoop particularly convenient and easy operation of the throw-in mechanism is possible, since the lever can be merely flicked with one of the drum sticks.

Turning now to the other bracket 23, it will be seen that the stud 31, having a knurled thumb nut at its outer end, extends through an opening in the end of the bracket 23 and is rotatably threaded into a box 39 in the shell H). A spring 40 urges the end of the bracket out away from the shell. Rotation of the thumb nut 38 efiects rocking of the bracket 23 about its axis 21, the spring 40 always keeping the end of the bracket against the thumb nut and the position of this member determining the position of the associated end of the bracket. This arrangement enables adjustment of the tension in the snare independent of the throw-in mechanism. That is, the drummer would first operate the throwin mechanism to move the snare to effective position in contact with the snare head; then he would rotate the thumb nut 38 in one direction or the other until the desired quality of note was obtained. Thereafter he would merely throw the snare into or out of operation by use of the throw-in mechanism, not again varying the adjustment in association with the bracket 23 until some change in the orchestra or type of music made it desirable to change the quality of the snare effect.

The connection between the strainer plates 20 and 2| and their respective supporting brackets 22 and 23 is such that the snare is automatically self-aligning. This is necessary in order to secure the best snare effect, since sometimes the wire coils vary slightly in tension. If the connection to the strainer plates were rigid such variation would result in one or more of the snare strands being in tighter engagement with the snare head than the others.

As may be best seen in Figures 6, '7 and 8, the ends of the brackets near the snare head terminate in hook portions 4| and 42. Since the connections between both strainer plates and brackets are the same, only one will be described in detail. Referring more particularly to strainer 2i and the end of bracket 23, it will be seen that the strainer plate is provided with an elongated opening 43 through which the hook portion 42 projects, the relative size of these parts being such that they are a loose fit. The center of the hook portion 42 is provided with a protuberance or bumped-out portion 44 which engages the edge of the slot 43. If all of the snare strands are under equal tension the relative position of the parts will be as shown in Figure 8; but if the strands toward one side of the snare are under more tension than those of the other side, the strainer plate can shift slightly to compensate for this difference. Moreover, rocking of either bracket about its mounting axis does not distort the snare position, since there is a transverse movement or hinging eiiect. That is, the strainer plate 2! is free to move up or down with relation to its connection to the end of the bracket 23.

In order to ensure proper muiiling of the snare, spring elements 45 and 46 are mounted on the brackets 22 and 23 and adapted to have their outer ends bear against the strainer plates 20 and 2i, respectively. These are strips of spring metal, and they are so fashioned that, when they are in the position shown in Figure 6, they are under tension. This tension urges the strainer plates with which they are in contact out away from the snare head, so that when the throw-in mechanism is moved to a position designed to render the snare inefiective these springs ensure movement of the snare away from the snare head. Their location to the inside of the bracket and beneath the strainer plates conceals them from view under normal conditions; and yet they are highly effective.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described for providing self-adjusting connection between the strainer member at the end of a snare and a bracket member on the shell of a drum, including: an elongated opening through one of said members; and a hook portion on the other member adapted to extend through said opening and bear against one edge thereof, the engagement normally being only with the center of said hook portion.

2. Apparatus of the character described for providing self-adjusting connection between the strainer member at the end of a snare and a bracket member on the shell of a drum, including: an elongated opening in the strainer member; and a broad hook portion on the bracket member adapted to extend through the opening, the hook portion having a central protuberance normally being the only part in engagement with the edge of the opening.

3. Apparatus of the character described for supporting a snare on a drum having a shell and a head, including: a bracket mounted on the shell and having a portion substantially flush with but spaced from the head; a movable connection between one end of the snare and said portion; and spring means on said bracket urging said snare away from said head.

4. Apparatus of the character described for supporting a snare on a drum having a shell and a head, including: a bracket mounted on the shell and having a portion substantially flush with but spaced from the head; a strainer plate on the end of the snare; a pivotal connection between the plate and said portion; and a spring on the bracket bearing against the plate to urge the snare away from the head.

5. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 1 1, including a spring on the bracket member bearing against the strainer member to urge the snare away from the head of the drum.

6. Apparatus of the character described for operatively mounting a snare on a drum having a shell and a head, including: a bracket mounted on one side of said shell; a second bracket pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the opposite side of said shell, one end of each bracket being substantially flush with but spaced from i said head, the snare being carried by said ends; and means for rocking the second bracket about its mounting to render the snare efiective or ineffective, this means including a lever and eccentric mounted on the shell and in pivotal association with the other end of the second bracket, the eccentric being rotatable about axis perpendicular to that of the second bracket.

7. Apparatus of the character described for operatively mounting a snare on a drum having a shell and a head, including: a pair of brackets pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on opposite sides of said shell, each having one end substantially flush with but spaced from said head, the snare being carried by said ends; threaded means for rocking one of the brackets about its pivotal mounting to adjust the tension of the snare against the head; and throw-in means for rocking the other bracket about its pivotal mounting to render the snare effective or ineffective, the throw-in means including a pivotally mounted eccentric member and a lever for rotating it, whereby the snare is rendered elfective by movement of the lever in either direction from ineffective position.

8. Apparatus of the character described for operatively mounting a snare on a drum having a shell and a head including: a pair of brackets pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on opposite sides of said shell, each having one end substantially flush with but spaced from said head, the snare being carried by said ends; threaded means for rocking one of the brackets about its pivotal mounting to adjust the tension of the snare against the head, the threaded means being adapted to move the end of the bracket furthest from the head toward the shell; spring means urging said end away from the shell; and throw-in means for rocking the other bracket about its pivotal mounting to render the snare effective or inefiective.

HENRY H. SLINGERLAND. 

